You Are So Not a Fallen Angel

Chapter 16

“Eliza, it’s almost midday, are you getting up?”

The door jamb rattled and I sat bolt upright in bed.

“Move!” I hissed, giving Lorris a shove. He tumbled over the side of the bed, landing in the gap between it and the wall. He cursed as I tossed the sheet over him, just as the door opened and Eli stuck his head around the door.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I’m fine,” I said, trying not to look to my left, where Lorris was cowering beneath the blanket. I smiled, hoping I didn’t look too guilty. Eli narrowed his eyes at me, as if sensing wasn’t quite right.

“Do you mind?” I made shooing motions with my hands.

“What are you up to?” Eli peered around the room, thankfully focusing on my desk and the wardrobe. “Why were you crashing about in the early hours of this morning?”

“It’s not a crime to want a shower. Ask Mum if you don’t believe me.”

“It’s not a crime, but it’s weird.”

“That’s enough.”

I sprung off the bed and slammed the door in his face. I glued one ear to the door and listened for the sound of Elijah’s moving away.

“You can come out now,” I said one I had heard him moving down the stairs.

“What was that about? Are you ashamed of me?” Lorris tossed the sheet back and stood up. The sight of him in just his briefs temporarily robbed me of speech.

“Terribly,” I said, once I had my thought trains running again. I picked my dressing gown off the floor and slipped it on. “Just the idea of being seen with you is mortifying.”

“That’s a pity.” He climbed over the bed and moved closer. “We’ll have to cancel that trip to Paris.”

“In that case,” I murmured, pulling him close. “Maybe I could work through it.”

“Is there anything I could do to persuade you?” he whispered back.

“There might.” I broke away. “But not right now. Be on your way, Feather Boy. I have things to do, and I imagine you do too.”

I frowned. Something stirred at the back of my mind.

“Is this the way it is going to be?” He grabbed his trousers and pulled them on, before turning to look for his shirt. “You use me and then kick me out before the dawn has broken.”

“It’s almost noon, my darling, so make yourself scarce.”

He buttoned his shirt and picked up his shoes.

“Your cruel words pierce me to the heart, Eliza, my sweetest. I feel like a piece of rubbish, tossed to the wind when it is no longer needed.”

“I’ll just have to hope a stray breeze brings you back to me then. Go on, off.”

He pantomimed being stabbed in the chest, clapping both hands to his chest and staggering backwards. The gesture was rather spoilt by the fact he was still holding his shoes.

“I’ll be back,” he said as he climbed out of the window and perched on the sill.

“Lucky me.” I gave him a quick kiss for good luck. He turned, jumped and disappeared. Once he was gone, I dressed quickly and went downstairs.

“Where is everyone?” I asked Flora, who was drooping by the kitchen counter, looking bored and put out.

“Your parents are at work, your brother has gone to see a friend and my mother is sunbathing.” She picked up an apple and stared at it. “This place is a dump.”